News

The Director of State Courts Office is accepting applications for interpreter training to be held in Milwaukee on Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 at UW-Milwaukee.

While Spanish interpreters are most often requested by the courts, increased efforts are being made to recruit qualified interpreters for many other languages, such as Arabic, Burmese, Cantonese, Mandarin, French, Hmong, Karen, Somali, and Vietnamese. The courts use interpreters in more than 50 different languages each year, including sign language. Scholarships are available for some non-Spanish languages.

Sessions are intended for individuals who are interested in learning the fundamentals of court interpreting and are designed to give participants an overview of the needs and expectations of the court with emphasis on ethical conduct, legal terminology, court procedure, and basic legal interpreting skills. Small group practice exercises will help attendees develop interpreting skills.

This orientation is intended as an introduction to the complexities of court interpreting, rather than as an in-depth training. Faculty includes judges, attorneys, and certified court interpreters. A $195 fee covers the sessions, lunch, and all training materials. Each session will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The application deadline is Monday, March 11.

Applications are also sought from people already interpreting in a legal or administrative hearing setting and in other fields, such as healthcare and education, who want to broaden their experience. Bilingual advocates who wish to learn more about the court interpreting profession are also encouraged to apply. Participants who complete orientation, achieve minimal testing levels, and meet other requirements will be placed on a public roster of interpreters used by courts, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and law-related agencies.

This training is part of the Director of State Courts Office Interpreter Program, which aims to improve language access in the courts. For more information on these training sessions, and to register, visit the court system website.

For more information contact interpreter program manager Carmel Capati in the Office of Court Operations, carmel.capati@wicourts.gov or (608) 266-8635.